Join us in a discussion of our community's Big Read: "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Each weekly discussion sponsored by the International and Area Studies Library will feature a different discussion leader from our local community who will bring their unique perspective to the conversation. Our featured speakers are:

February 21: Susmita Das

February 28: Dr. Koeli Goel

March 7: Dr. Rajeshwari Pandharipande

The conversations will explore the book's characters and themes and how those themes fit with our own experiences.

We have free copies of the book available in our library but you do not need to have read the book yet in order to participate in the conversation. All are welcome- this event is free and open to the public!

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. The Big Read in Champaign-Urbana is a partnership of the Spurlock Museum, International and Area Studies Library at Illinois, The Urbana Free Library, Champaign Public Library, The Art Theater, Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, Asian American Cultural Center, Asian Educational Media Service, Indian Cultural Society of Urbana-Champaign, and Krannert Art Museum. Some events are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.